I'm looking at leaving the sheltered waters of Sunny Q and sailing down the NSW Coast towards Sydney. Would anyone have advice on suitable anchorages for a 6ft draft after I leave the Southport Bar. I've already got big Al's book but you can't beat local advice to help with the decision making.

Yes Cisco, it could be just me and the 'voices' on the trip so the 100 fathom line might not be my first option. I don't mind putting in the long hours in the cockpit and have just fitted a car alarm on a 20 min cycle. "Guaranteed to wake the dead". A light comes on for 2 minutes before I'm reminded just how loud it is if I don't hit the reset button in time.

Still, it might be nice to have a few safe anchorages in mind before pushing off.

Sure thing Andy59, I should be thirst by the time I get to Southport. I'll flick you an email when I get close.

I'm starting the feel thirsty already.

Hi Crusoe
Ive done the NSW coast more than ten times and got a bit blasé about the bar crossings as id crossed em all without drama several times. This was until last season when I got my ass served to me on a plate on more than one occasion and I nearly lost my boat to a set on the tweed bar with a real dumb decision. The Yamba bar nearly swallowed me whole after a fast run in a black nor easter and I wont ever go into Balina again
Needles to say that coastline deserves respect!
Lucas's rule of crossing a bar between the 4th and 5th hour of a run in tide is a good one that has served me well and it is also worth remembering that the great wind conditions that you spent the day sailing in are the same conditions that will roughen up the Bar crossing you intend to make at the end of the day.
A good run is usualy - Goldie to Yamba/Iluka crossing the bar in good conditions for a rest but if the bar is up then you stand off or head to Coffs Harbour which is "keel friendly". Coffs is a wild ride in a big southerly but you shouldn't be going south in a big southerly? Next bit of protection is Trial bay which is open roadstead but will give you protection in a southerly, No protection in a Nor Easter but you would continue south in a Nor Easter? Then comes the bar crossings of Port Macquarie and Camden Haven with the later being my pick, Both require respect to the tide and wind but are crossed on a regular basis with 6ft keels
. After this there is the protection of Broughton Island and then Port Stephens which will handle your keel depth.
South of Port Stephens is Newcastle and then Brisbane Broken bay, Both can handle a bit of rough weather and keel depths.
Ive left off a few smaller stops but you can always read Lucas for more info
Hope this helps.

Hangtime has covered the issues pretty thoroughly. We sailed Brisbane to Sydney and return for Christmas a couple of years ago. Going south, we only stopped at Coffs and Port Stephens - we were out wide, making great time with the EAC behind us, and timing bar entries for a rising tide in daylight would have been very difficult under those circumstances. It did mean doing a couple of overnight sails. Coming back north, against the EAC and hugging the coast, we did multiple short trips in daylight. Had no trouble with bar entries, but we are always very conservative, crossing late in the rising tide and with good visibility.

Tweed, Ballina and even Port Macquarie have particularly bad reputations and weren't under consideration by us.

I also agree with all that especially comments on the Tweed, Ballina and Port Macquarie bars which require special knowledge to navigate.

With Camden Haven and Swansea you will need the top of the tide if you have a 6' keel.

The EAC is usually found about two mile off the coast and at certain points, Byron Bay and Trail Bay for instance, very close inshore.
That's in about 40m not 100m, but, south of Seal Rocks the EAC moves offshore and then you will have to chase the 100m line to get the current.

The EAC is very fickle and what you find is what you will get on the day, it can change very rapidly.

Ramona said..
Download Rob's Passage Planner. This is the 2011 version but the towns have not moved much. Try to find the professional fishermens chat frequency and monitor this for gossip on your travels. The trawler operators love to chat to each other and often discuss the local weather. Do not be tempted to follow any advice given by coastal patrols, they rarely have had any boating experience. Assess any bars to be crossed yourself and if in doubt don't.

http://skipr.net/rpp/PassagePlanner2011.pdf

Hey Ramona I Back you on the Coastal patrol sentiment...... It is politicaly incorrect to say negative stuff against these guys but it is my experience time and time again that they are well meaning Buffoons!

MorningBird said..
I volunteered at the Terrey Hills radio base and the great majority of the volunteers were very keen and well meaning but only 10 or so had boating experience. Most chose VMR in a choice between VMR and Meals on Wheels.
They are fine with keeping records to follow your voyage (mistakes will and do happen but nothing is perfect) but take any seafaring advice, such as on bars, with a healthy dose of skepticism.
Other smaller bases might be different to the large Sydney base.

I hear you on Sydney, but Lake Macquarie seems to have at least some experienced boaters. Their main base sits above the Swansea bar and they can tell you how good or bad it is very easily. They will also offer to come out and meet you if you are unsure of the channel. Very accommodating in my experience.

Hi Guys,

Bar's all need respect - I live in Ballina and it is generally only those that are attempting to cross not follow Lucas's guides that get into trouble. My rule of thumb <2m swell and a making tide you will have no problems.

Like everything to do with sailing, be conservative, have some charts so you know where to go, have a back up plan (for if it looks dodgey) and be flexible and you can cross these bars with confidence. Do the wrong thing and you may get burnt.

There are some great places to explore up these rivers so don't rule it out just because it requires some planning and the right weather.

Currents - I have sailed to Lord Howe a number of times and use these current charts to work the eddies in both directions - makes a huge difference!

Note also that there is a counter current- but it is real close into the coast in our neck of the woods.

Good time to head south at the moment with some great northerlies - just be on the lookout for those southerly busters... lucky we have seabreeze!

Cheers,

James

Franrick said..
I generally head out to pick up the east australian current. You will know when you get into the current as apart from you depth sounder you can also tell by your sea water temp gauge if you have one as it will drop at least 2 degrees once you get into the current.
I generally do it in one leg but usually keep Coffs in mind if I have the need to go ashore as Coffs is roughly half way to Lake Macquarrie which is generally a good bar with either local knowledge or assistance from VMR radio.
Im also heading down quite soon.
Cheers, Rick

Hi Rick,
Don't you mean temp will go UP at least 2 degrees once you get into the EAC?
regards,
allan